TBF, Mags, you have been doing a lot of the heavylifting for the quest, so this will be in good hands.
To be clear to everyone, this is just me burning out on imagination of the quest, since my muse has been hitting me over the head a lot with so many different ideas that I just can't find myself too interested in this.
I'll still hang out here, though, since this still does have a sepcial place in my heart.
I'd like to thank you all for making this a wonderful experience while it lasted.
I'd also like to thank @Magoose, @Fluffy_serpent, and @Martin Noctis for doing so much to help prepare and write this quest. I couldn't have done it without you all.
As to Apple- we could go for that. They are very innovative, though they don't have chip plants or a chip R&D section. Not sure why we would try and pay 400-500 million when they are worth 102 at IPO. IPOs generally are a high point of value for a while- not a low point. Trying to buy a company for 4-5 times what the underwriters think its worth before it makes IPO doesn't really make sense.
But why are we interested in buying companies in the first place? Is it merely to make money in the camera industry?
That would be nice, but the reason we are interested in buying a company is to further George's passion in developing new techniques and technologies to further movie magic. And to help Lucasfilm push the boundaries of moviemaking. We need their R&D capabilities and their manufacturing abilities- not the brand name.
So, would paying hundreds of millions for the name "Polaroid" and its dwindling (but still profitable) cameras further that? Maybe a bit if we stretch- but not nearly as much as a tech company that would help with the development of CGI and digital cameras. The barrier to those technologies are electronic hardware related. It also would help us with bringing something to the table with Apple and with our own idea for a computer gaming division.
So, for a multitude of reasons- buying Intel or Western Digital would be a better choice.
There is also the Nostalgia Factor... Many who wanted to buy Kodak, Delorean, or in this case, Polaroid wanted because they are brands that went bankrupt and wanted a redemption story...
X] Plan Lucasfilms Strikes Back
-[X]Empire: Well You wanted to Build an Empire. Now you have one. DC: 0
-[X]Sam Rami and That Crazy Film?: So there was this kid you were supposed to meet last month, and than… well you forgot. But he didn't mind. He has a great film. DC: 30
-[X]Mike Eisner and The Man Who Made More Money: So Mike has got his case won… and he is happy about it. DC: 30
-[X]George Lucas and The Bet From Hell: So George invented a digital camera. A hand held, portable camera for the average person. And he just smiled. "I took it personally."
-[X]Cyberpunk Releases: You look at Mikes's final draft and smile. "Okay… Lets see how people like it" DC: 40
-[X]Stan the Man, and Paying Debts: Even when you bought all the stock and own Marvel… Well here is the thing, most banks had some insane rates, almost userous rates… so you and Stan are going to pay it back. In full.
-[X]Todd Graduating: You honestly didn't expect that Todd wold invite you. Just his mom and maybe Carrie, considering the work and schedule... but hey, he was here, and you wonder what his future holds.
-[X]Having Fun: So… Finally going to play some of the new Cyberpunk everyone… everyone ready? DC: 20
-[X]Carrie Wants to Talk Some More: Carrie has been waiting a very long time to finally lay down and relax. She has nothing to worry about now.
-[X]Potential: Mary wants to talk about… something that she noticed. Debbie let it slip that Mary is special… and she wants to know what that -means? DC: 0
-[X]Brandon's Big Ideas!: Brandon came to you with a good idea. Okay, talk to me kid? DC: 20
-[X]Simple THings with Clint Eastwood: Though Clint has many faults, there is one thing that you do not fault him for. His pure, unadulterated love for the Western. And he wants to make them. DC: ???
-[X]Being Better: You are going to be better at the whole Media thing. DC: 60
That would be nice, but the reason we are interested in buying a company is to further George's passion in developing new techniques and technologies to further movie magic. And to help Lucasfilm push the boundaries of moviemaking. We need their R&D capabilities and their manufacturing abilities- not the brand name.
We already have an R&D wing, Magoose once said we're just behind Apple (for their creative talant) and ARPANET (due to sheer power) we already have everything BUT the manufacturing scale and a recognisable brand, so things we can get by buying Polaroid, they're not a small brand in the '80 you know.
So, would paying hundreds of millions for the name "Polaroid" and its dwindling (but still profitable) cameras further that? Maybe a bit if we stretch- but not nearly as much as a tech company that would help with the development of CGI and digital cameras. The barrier to those technologies are electronic hardware related. It also would help us with bringing something to the table with Apple and with our own idea for a computer gaming division.
I said the film market still has some gas in its tank to help transition us to digital and again We have the hardware. Spending money on Intel is not bringing us closer to our goal of brand awereness
Ok, here is my plan, I am taking advantage of the Autoapass to get Apple so that we don´t have to trust the Magooose dice in December...
I am paying $500 million because I would rather aim high than lose the chance, we have more than enough money, and being generous is a great way of avoiding Brain Drain... [X] Plan Empire and Apple
-[X]Empire: Well You wanted to Build an Empire. Now you have one. DC: 0
-[X]Investing in the Future: You want to Spend some of that money you made into the company and make the whole thing better DC: ??? (Linetail what you want to invest in, and how much money you want to invest in it) --[X]Apple ($500 million)
-[X]Sam Rami and That Crazy Film?: So there was this kid you were supposed to meet last month, and than… well you forgot. But he didn't mind. He has a great film. DC: 30
-[X]Mike Eisner and The Man Who Made More Money: So Mike has got his case won… and he is happy about it. DC: 30
-[X]George Lucas and The Bet From Hell: So George invented a digital camera. A hand held, portable camera for the average person. And he just smiled. "I took it personally."
-[X]Cyberpunk Releases: You look at Mikes's final draft and smile. "Okay… Lets see how people like it" DC: 40
-[X]Stan the Man, and Paying Debts: Even when you bought all the stock and own Marvel… Well here is the thing, most banks had some insane rates, almost userous rates… so you and Stan are going to pay it back. In full.
-[X]Todd Graduating: You honestly didn't expect that Todd wold invite you. Just his mom and maybe Carrie, considering the work and schedule... but hey, he was here, and you wonder what his future holds.
-[X]Carrie Wants to Talk Some More: Carrie has been waiting a very long time to finally lay down and relax. She has nothing to worry about now.
-[X]Potential: Mary wants to talk about… something that she noticed. Debbie let it slip that Mary is special… and she wants to know what that -means? DC: 0
-[X]Brandon's Big Ideas!: Brandon came to you with a good idea. Okay, talk to me kid? DC: 20
-[X]Simple THings with Clint Eastwood: Though Clint has many faults, there is one thing that you do not fault him for. His pure, unadulterated love for the Western. And he wants to make them. DC: ???
-[X]Being Better: You are going to be better at the whole Media thing. DC: 60
[X] Plan Lucasfilm Roll Tide v Universal War Damn Eagle
-[X] Empire: Well You wanted to Build an Empire. Now you have one. DC: 0 -[X] Sam Rami and That Crazy Film?: So there was this kid you were supposed to meet last month, and than… well you forgot. But he didn't mind. He has a great film. DC: 30 -[X] Mike Eisner and The Man Who Made More Money: So Mike has got his case won… and he is happy about it. DC: 30 -[X] George Lucas and The Bet From Hell: So George invented a digital camera. A hand held, portable camera for the average person. And he just smiled. "I took it personally." -[X] Cyberpunk Releases: You look at Mikes's final draft and smile. "Okay… Lets see how people like it" DC: 40 -[X] Stan the Man, and Paying Debts: Even when you bought all the stock and own Marvel… Well here is the thing, most banks had some insane rates, almost userous rates… so you and Stan are going to pay it back. In full. -[X] The Directors Hold Court: So you are invited to the Directors Meeting. Steve, Francis, and Martin gathered to celebrate the successful completion of another film. And Talk about stuff. DC: 40 -[X] Investing in the Future: You want to Spend some of that money you made into the company and make the whole thing better DC: ??? (Linetail what you want to invest in, and how much money you want to invest in it) --[X] Graffiti Cameras [ $300 Million ]: Lucasfilm aims to disrupt the film industry by developing a compact high-quality camera in response to Kodak's challenge and Fujifilm's entry into the US market with a cheaper product. With George's vision to capture any shot imaginable [made abundantly clear before, during and following the making of the Battle for Hoth], this smaller camera will drive innovation and push creative boundaries. Once established, Lucasfilm plans to tap into the consumer market by not only finally offering a personal digital camera, leveraging their brand reputation and potential for significant profit to get a return on their investment. In addition to photography, a number of other products, such as photocopiers, ink jets, and chemical analyzers, would not only provide an additional source of income, but also reduced prices for Lucasfilm Unlimited offices for these same products. -[X] Todd Graduating: You honestly didn't expect that Todd wold invite you. Just his mom and maybe Carrie, considering the work and schedule... but hey, he was here, and you wonder what his future holds. -[X] Brandon's Big Ideas!: Brandon came to you with a good idea. Okay, talk to me kid? DC: 20 -[X] Simple Things with Clint Eastwood: Though Clint has many faults, there is one thing that you do not fault him for. His pure, unadulterated love for the Western. And he wants to make them. DC: ??? -[X] Beging Better: You are going to be better at the whole Media thing. DC: 60
The time has come, launch the boats and let slip the dogs of war.
--[2] Lucasfilm Europe: Emerald Campus [ $75 Million ]: Lucasfilm plans to expand its presence into Europe, with the best place to start in your mind is in the home country, Ireland. The Lucasfilm Europe Campus is set to be established in Galway [which, given Dublin's current urban congestion, gives the company room for expansion], serving as an office space, for production and legal, and feature state-of-the-art facilities for film production, post-production, and visual effects. By leveraging Ireland's talent pool and utilizing the country's favorable tax environment [read: tax haven], Lucasfilm aims to acquire and distribute European films and television, while contributing to Ireland's entertainment industry and economic growth, through this campus. The campus will foster collaboration, host industry events, and provide opportunities for local talent, positioning Ireland as a thriving hub for creative industries...hey Mike, why is everyone already calling it the future Eurowood? -[6] Workout: A Healthy Mind and a Healthy Body are Key to having a good life, and you have been slacking as of late. Time to hit the workout and discipline, and perhaps, see things differently. DC: 30 Reward: You work out and feel better.
--[] Focus on Martial Arts: Be Like Water.
Though I do want to clarify that the chart wouldn't allow me to add a column to the left to clarify what years things were meant to be released, but I did figure that if all their shows were 8-12 episodes it would be theoretically be possible to play three of them at different times of year, allowing us to basically have a combined 24-36 episodes [realistically the target would be less than 26] to put on throughout the year.
@Magoose Would purchasing a company this turn use an autopass? Cause I remember with one of our previous autopasses with the Bruce Lee Memorial Gym that we still had to roll for Linda Lee's approval and that was not subject to the autopass.
@Kaiser Chris With this new info I would suggest you that besides buying Polaroid we also buy Canon (for their lenses) and/or Apple (because why risk the Magoose Dice in December When we can autopass it now...)
Okay I got rid of media improvement and replaced it with buying Polaroid. Also should I replace the Brandon action with the media one as the Brandon idea seems like something we can achieve next turn?
Okay I got rid of media improvement and replaced it with buying Polaroid. Also should I replace the Brandon action with the media one as the Brandon idea seems like something we can achieve next turn?
The media thing is way more important as it would remove a strong debuff so yes, but if I may I would request that we get rid of 'having fun' action because that seems like the least important action of the bunch.
Okay I got rid of media improvement and replaced it with buying Polaroid. Also should I replace the Brandon action with the media one as the Brandon idea seems like something we can achieve next turn?
I would personally remove the having fun option as well, that and the Brandon action seems like the ones that are less time sensitive (and getting better at dealing with the press unlocks the Lucasfilms PR department, and since we are getting an Upgrade Lucasfilms action soon, we save one AP to get it done)
Besides that, @Kaiser Chris would you consider buying Apple or Intel for around $400-500 million?
They would be massive boon for Lucasfilm in the future and we can get them this turn without depending of the Drama Queen Magoose Dices...
@Kaiser Chris, I personally think it'd be better if we replace the fun option for Polaroid. The media one has a pretty high DC range so it's better to do it with a guaranteed pass
Some people do it just for money. Some companies are started with a goal in mind plus money. My point is that money is not the sole motivator this time- it is to actually revolutionize an industry.
We already have an R&D wing, Magoose once said we're just behind Apple (for their creative talant) and ARPANET (due to sheer power) we already have everything BUT the manufacturing scale and a recognisable brand, so things we can get by buying Polaroid, they're not a small brand in the '80 you know.
We have an R&D wing- but one that is focused on special effects and cameras. Not on computer chip manufacturing. We could start a larger R&D wing (I have pitched LucasLabs before). But, we also have a recognizable brand.
Polaroid's manufacturing really isn't as helpful when it comes to a digital camera- Polaroids and Digital Cameras have very different parts. Which is why I was pitching Intel. Which could also help us with Apple, CGI, and Digital Cameras.
Yes, I am aware Polaroid is not a small brand in the 80's. But, the name is not that big a deal when it comes to a revolutionary product- the product itself is. Apple just popped out, for instance, and it became a smash hit. George Lucas, creator of THX and ILM, is a brand name in cameras in of himself. Heck, we could market it as ILM's first digital camera and it would be amazing marketing. So, no, Brand awareness is not really worth...$750 million dollars?
Seriously, $750 million dollars for Polaroid is a crazy amount if the primary purchase power is it's brand awareness. We could build 10 LucasFilm Campuses around the world for that amount of money and have them pitch our new revolutionary camera. We could probably buy Intel and Western Digital for that amount. And those companies are part of a growing industry that will shoot up as the 80's go on. Unlike Polaroid. And, those companies will help in other aspects of Lucasfilm.
I said the film market still has some gas in its tank to help transition us to digital and again We have the hardware. Spending money on Intel is not bringing us closer to our goal of brand awereness
Yes, the camera/film market still has some gas. But it is a shrinking amount of gas- it's like that speech from other people's money. We are seeking to increase our market share in a shrinking market. And we are a big brand in the field. So...our goal is not Brand Awareness (or should not be).
The goal should be parts development and manufacturing, R&D, and patents. All of which need electronics.
Okay I got rid of media improvement and replaced it with buying Polaroid. Also should I replace the Brandon action with the media one as the Brandon idea seems like something we can achieve next turn?
The media improvement action has a DC of 60, so we should really do that action this turn. The Brandon Action has a DC of 20. Though, may I suggest the playing cyberpunk action as it has a DC of 20 and we already failed Brandon's Action?
Also, why are you pricing Polaroid at $750 million? Universal bought Kodak Eastman for $300 million- and Kodak Eastman is a far larger company with a larger stock value. Heck, it was THE blue chip stock. Why price Polaroid at 2.5x the value of the largest company in the industry during the height of its power? Especially since it is in financial trouble right now?
